Bedeutung
To have no money.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Slovenian rural tradition, the church was often the only stone building in a village of wooden huts. While the church looked 'rich', the interior (especially the bell tower and attic) was barren, creating a sharp contrast that fueled this idiom. This idiom is shared across the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, reflecting a common cultural and religious history where the Catholic Church was a central but materially 'empty' (for animals) institution. Slovenian writers like Ivan Cankar used the theme of poverty to highlight social injustice. While they might not always use the exact idiom, the 'church mouse' spirit of 'honest poverty' is a recurring motif. Today, the idiom is often used ironically by young people who have smartphones and laptops but complain about being 'broke' for a night out, showing how the idiom has shifted from literal starvation to relative financial lack.
Gender Agreement
Always check if you need 'reven' (m), 'revna' (f), or 'revni' (pl). This is the most common error for learners.
Don't use with 'podgana'
Even if you think rats are poorer than mice, Slovenians only use 'miš' in this idiom.
Bedeutung
To have no money.
Gender Agreement
Always check if you need 'reven' (m), 'revna' (f), or 'revni' (pl). This is the most common error for learners.
Don't use with 'podgana'
Even if you think rats are poorer than mice, Slovenians only use 'miš' in this idiom.
Use it for irony
It's very effective when used ironically after you've just spent a lot of money on something silly.
Student Context
If you are a student in Slovenia, this is your most important phrase for social survival!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word in the idiom.
Moj brat nima službe, zato je reven kot cerkvena ___.
The idiom specifically uses 'miš' (mouse).
Choose the grammatically correct sentence for a woman speaking.
How would a woman say she is poor as a church mouse?
The adjective 'revna' is the feminine form of 'reven'.
In which situation is this idiom MOST appropriate?
When should you use 'reven kot cerkvena miš'?
It's a common way to explain a lack of funds in a casual setting.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Greš z mano v trgovino?' B: 'Ne, nimam denarja. Sem ___.'
This is the standard idiom for having no money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Gender Agreement for 'Reven'
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMoj brat nima službe, zato je reven kot cerkvena ___.
The idiom specifically uses 'miš' (mouse).
How would a woman say she is poor as a church mouse?
The adjective 'revna' is the feminine form of 'reven'.
When should you use 'reven kot cerkvena miš'?
It's a common way to explain a lack of funds in a casual setting.
A: 'Greš z mano v trgovino?' B: 'Ne, nimam denarja. Sem ___.'
This is the standard idiom for having no money.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, it's generally not offensive. It's a standard idiom. However, don't use it to mock someone's genuine suffering.
Yes, but you must change 'reven' to 'revna'. Example: 'Ona je revna kot cerkvena miš.'
Yes, it is very common in modern spoken Slovenian.
The plural is 'revni kot cerkvene miši'.
No, that sounds very strange to a native speaker.
Not really, but you can just say 'sem švorc' for a shorter, slangier version.
No, it usually just means you have no money in your wallet or bank account.
No, it's too informal for professional correspondence.
Yes, the meaning and usage are identical.
Because churches historically had no food storage, so mice there had nothing to eat.
Yes, you can say 'Podjetje je revno kot cerkvena miš', meaning the company is bankrupt.
The vocabulary is A1, but the concept of an idiom is usually introduced at A2. However, it's so common that beginners should learn it early.
Verwandte Redewendungen
biti na nuli
synonymTo be at zero (money).
biti švorc
synonymTo be broke.
nima niti beliča
similarTo not have a single penny.
biti berač
builds onTo be a beggar.
plavati v denarju
contrastTo be swimming in money.
